A hotel manager crawled through a baggage carousel and boarded a plane at Birmingham Airport in a drunken escapade which caused a security breach, a court heard.

Lee Jezard, 22, had wandered drunkenly around the terminal in the early hours of July 17 before entering the restricted area and clambouring on board the Lufthansa Embraer plane.

When approached by a cleaner he claimed to be the co-pilot and told her he was a member of the Royal Navy.

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He went on to tell airport police that he was testing their security.

Appearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court, the hotel manager, who lost his job over the incident, pleaded guilty to boarding a plane and entering a restricted area without permission.

He also admitted theft after airport CCTV captured him eating food at a Caffè Nero coffee shop.

Jezard was fined £95 for each of the charges and ordered to pay £185 costs, £36 compensation and a £20 victim surcharge.

David Devine, prosecuting, told the court: “Effectively this was a drunken escapade from Lee Jezard and he has managed to board a plane.

“He was found on the plane by cleaning staff. They found a pretty drunken Mr Jezard and he told members of staff he was the co-pilot and was asked to produce his identification.

“He also volunteered that he worked for the navy.

“Suspicions were aroused and security contacted.”

When security staff arrived at the plane, Jezard, of Jubilee Avenue, Redditch, said: “I break into places to see if people can catch me.

“I get into prisons and other places.”

After he was arrested he told police during an interview: “I was trying to show how easy it was to get on that plane and I did it.”

Mr Devine said CCTV showed Jezard wandering drunkenly around the airport terminal before crawling through a baggage carousel.

Following the incident Jezard told the media he had missed a flight for a lads' holiday.

But Mr Devine said the former hotel boss was not listed on any flight manifest from Birmingham Airport.

Tariq Khan, defending, said the drunken escapade had cost Jezard his job as a hotel manager and had caused a rift in his family.

“He has been ostracised, they were not impressed.

“He had a good job in a hotel and that has been lost.

“This was a drunken escapade. There is no suggestion he would have harmed anyone else or caused difficulties to aircraft.

“It was 1am and there were no passengers around or flights entering the airport.”

Chair of the bench Mr Ahluwalia told Jezard: “Although they are serious matters and the implications could be serious, we are bound by statute and we can’t go beyond that.

“The only way we can deal with you is by way of fine.”

An airport spokesperson said: “The safety and security of our passengers is our number one priority. The individual penetrated the terminal boundary and was subsequently arrested by the Police. A full investigation has taken place.”